11 Ways to Turn a Coleslaw Kit Into a Meal

Longer, hotter days bring weekends full of cold beers and juicy burgers. Summer means a lot of grilling—but it also means a lot of sides, like classic coleslaw.

We know the easiest hack to making the perfect slaw is snagging one of those pre-shredded coleslaw kits. You know the ones: The plastic bag full of shredded green and red cabbage with matchsticked carrots. It’s the perfect veggie mixture to drench in a flavorful, mayonnaise-heavy dressing.

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We’re here to vouch for shredded cabbage as so much more than a creamy side dish. We love to keep bags of the stuff on hand for easy, weeknight meals. Here are 11 ways to turn those coleslaw kits into a delicious meal.

Or Tostadas

Caitlin Bensel

Like a taco, tostadas can be crafted to your taste with whatever additions you have on hand. Top them off with beans, meat, grilled peppers, and of course— fresh shredded cabbage. We love these superfast Black Bean Tostadas With Cabbage Slaw for a vegetarian, 20-minute meal.

Make Pancakes

Photo: Jennifer Causey

The last thing on your mind when you think cabbage may be a pancake, but this Japanese-style dish is a traditional dinner we can’t get enough of. Shredded cabbage is the base to this eggy, bacon-filled Cabbage Okonomiyaki, and it comes together in just 30 minutes.

Fill Potstickers

Photo: Jennifer Causey

Fold delicate bites of cooked cabbage into veg-forward potstickers for a fresher flavor. These Shrimp, Cabbage, and Carrot Potstickers are a great start, and you can get creative with the vegetable and protein mixture you stuff in your wonton wrappers.

Make Fried Rice

Jennifer Causey

Fried rice is a classic way to use up all the leftover vegetables and spices you have lying around. Though cabbage rarely makes an appearance in this delectable dinner, we definitely suggest adding it in. Our Kimchi Fried Rice uses chopped kimchi and the remaining juices, but a bag of cabbage and extra spice can add the same craveable crunch and goodness to the pan.